Design Of Tailings Dams Research Articles

Methodology for the Identification of Moisture Content in Tailings Dam Walls Based on Electrical Resistivity Tomography Technique

The design of tailings dams has improved significantly in recent decades due to experience and advances in applied research. However, there are still several environmental and geomechanical uncertainties associated with the response of these structures. Failures on the wall of tailings dams are well documented, where the most common causes are related to the action of water overtopping, slope instability, seepage, and foundation failure. Measuring the humidity or the saturation level at tailings dam walls has become a must do in the recent years. Resistivity monitoring using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) techniques has proven to be one of the tools that provide good subsurface characterization for internal erosion detection and seepage assessment to evaluate potential environmental risks and the physical stability of tailings dams. Also, the integrated techniques of geotechnical, geophysical, and geochemical data have been used to correlate, coordinate, and improve the characterization. In this research, a procedure to guide us to a new methodology of acquiring and monitoring humidity content is presented, in which 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles are linked to the degree of soil saturation, using moisture sensors installed in a nearby well. The ERT profiles provide a 2D resistivity profile, and the moisture sensors can measure resistivity and volumetric water content (VWC) at a given installation depth. This second measure (VWC), with a defined total porosity, can be combined with Archie’s empirical law to obtain the degree of saturation, allowing the possibility to create remote monitoring suitable for mining operations without excessive laboratory testing.

Comparative analysis of Ukrainian and international standards in the context of mining tailings dam design requirements

Comparative analysis of Ukrainian and international standards in the context of mining tailings dam design requirements

Mechanical Characteristics of Tailings in Different Depositional Zones: A Case Study of Caijiagou Tailings Pond in Shaanxi, China

This study examines the widespread practice of upstream tailings dam construction in metallurgical mines in China, conducting comprehensive testing and research on tailings from various depositional zones of the Caijiagou tailings pond. Analysis of the test results from three types of tailings reveals a systematic relationship between the mechanical characteristics of tailings and their depositional zones: the farther from the dam, the finer the tailings particles, categorized as silty clay tailing, silt tailing, and sandy silt tailing. Consistent patterns were observed in the consolidated-drained shear strength and consolidated-undrained effective shear strength of these tailings. Among these, sandy silt tailing exhibited the highest strength, whereas silty clay tailing displayed the lowest. The dynamic stress–strain relationships of all three tailings types are described using the Hardin equivalent viscous-elastic model, where the initial dynamic shear modulus and the maximum dynamic shear stress in the model increased with effective confining pressure. The damping ratios exhibited a three-stage trend with increasing dynamic strain: gradual increase, rapid growth, and then gradual stabilization. Under various consolidated stress conditions, the ratio of the damping ratio to the maximum damping ratio versus the reduction in dynamic shear modulus showed a favorable linear relationship. Under vibration conditions, the dynamic shear stress corresponding to tailings failure increased with higher effective confining pressure and consolidated stress ratio. Finally, this study summarizes the parameters and indicators related to the saturated tailings of iron mines used in the research. Our work provides a foundation and reference for the design of tailings dams and the development and utilization of abandoned tailings ponds.

Development law and growth model of dynamic pore water pressure of tailings under different consolidation conditions.

Tailings dams are in danger of liquefaction during earthquakes. The liquefaction process can be indirectly reflected by the evolution rule of the dynamic pore water pressure. To study the development law of dynamic pore water pressure of tailing sand under different consolidation conditions, the evolution equation of critical dynamic pore water pressure of tailings under isotropic and anisotropic consolidation conditions was derived based on the limit equilibrium theory. Moreover, the development law of dynamic pore water pressure was expounded theoretically. The dynamic triaxial tests of tailing silty sand and tailing silt under different dry densities, consolidation ratios, and confining pressures were performed. The dynamic pore water pressure ratio and vibration ratio curves of tailings under isotropic and anisotropic consolidation were analyzed, and a dynamic pore water pressure growth index model suitable for both isotropic and anisotropic consolidation was derived. The results showed that the critical dynamic pore water pressure was positively correlated with the confining pressure and average particle size of tailings under isotropic consolidation conditions. The tailings have a limit dynamic effective internal friction angle [Formula: see text] under the anisotropic consolidation condition. The evolution law of critical dynamic pore water pressure can be judged according to the dynamic effective internal friction angle of tailing sand φd and [Formula: see text] values. The consolidation ratio significantly affects the dynamic pore pressure growth curve while confining pressure and dry density do not. For different tailing materials, the dynamic pore water pressure ratio is positively correlated with tailing particles. The dynamic pore water pressure growth process of tailing silty sand and tailing silt can be divided into two stages: rapid and stable growths. The development law of two types of tailings can be described by the dynamic pore water pressure growth index model. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the seismic design of tailings dams in practical engineering.

Sustainable design of tailings dams using geotechnical and geomorphic analysis

ABSTRACT Geomorphic landform design for mine waste structures has been proposed as a sustainable alternative to traditional design approaches for decades. Over this time, the focus on mine closure and related sustainability approaches has grown steadily. Many geotechnical engineers and responsible mining companies understand the obligation to design and construct structures that will perform well in the long term. Concepts and tools are provided in this paper that will assist engineers in achieving their long-term goals. This research evaluates four tailings dam designs in terms of their geotechnical stability and long-term geomorphology: two traditional designs (uniform slope and platform-bank) and two geomorphic-inspired designs (catena and horseshoe). All four designs were subjected to two- and three-dimensional (3D) stability analysis, as well as 3D landscape evolution modeling (geomorphic analysis). Results indicated that the horseshoe-style geomorphic tailings dam design performed better than the others for each of the analyses completed. The horseshoe design consisted of interspersed catena slopes and uniform slopes, which resulted in a type of buttressing effect that enhanced the geotechnical stability of the dam while also reducing and focusing surface erosion.

A method for assessing the long-term integrity of tailings dams

Mine tailings are a by-product of the processing of minerals. At most mines they are a waste product that needs to be managed. Tailings composition and properties vary widely and are in most cases highly erodible due to their fine particle size and can contain elevated concentrations of unwanted minerals and process chemicals. Therefore, if released to the environment they can be a significant environmental problem. A common management strategy is to store them in 'tailings dams' where they will remain in perpetuity. Little work has been done to assess the long-term erosional behaviour of tailings dams. Computer based Landscape Evolution Models (LEMs) provide information on erosion rates, type of erosion and where erosion is likely to occur. They can therefore provide guidance on long-term behaviour which allows designs to be tested and improved. Here a LEM, SIBERIA, is used to assess two hypothetical tailings dam designs using different surface covers and climates. The results suggest that a tailings dam that can capture rainfall can erode less than a capped design that must shed any runoff. An embankment with a small and steep catchment has minimal erosion potential and any material eroded from the internal wall of the embankment is deposited internally and provides erosion protection. If the external embankment is maintained then there is potential for long-term encapsulation of tailings. The single biggest issue for the employment of LEMs is that of parameterisation and here assumes (1) a uniform and consistent armour or (2) a consistent and self-sustaining vegetation cover. The modelling and methods here provide a template for tailings dam assessment at other sites globally, and will improve tailings dam design and reduce environmental risk.

In the Wake of the Mount Polley Mine Tailings Breach: Tailings Dam Design, Innovation, and Practice Changes

The Mount Polley tailings dam in British Columbia (BC), Canada, failed in 2014, spilling approximately 21 million m3 of water and tailings (estimated as approximately 50/50 water and tailings) into Hazeltine Creek, Polley Lake, and Quesnel Lake. In January 2015, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) issued a report by the Independent Review Panel (Panel) that assessed the failure. At the same time, it also launched a separate investigation, led by the chief inspector of mines, into the root cause of the problem, the failure mechanism, and the operational and governance aspects that contributed to the failure. This report was issued in November 2015.

Stability Studies of Tailings Dam Based on the Geo-Studio

The tailings dam safety situation is not optimistic in our country, the accident of tailings dam do great harm to people's safety and state’s property. In this paper, based on methods Sweden arc method and Bishop method which were written in the latest tailings dam design specification. Firstly, the paper verifies the security of the tailings under the normal working condition. Secondly, the paper simulates the flood of dam body seepage field and sliding field contours on the assumption of multiple conditions, coming out the safety coefficient. Finally, the author put forward many control Suggestions and measures for the safe operation of the tailings.

Preface to the Special Issue of Green Mining “Mineral Resources, Mining and Environmental Management in ASEAN”

This issue of Applied Environmental Research includes seven of the papers that were presented at a Regional Workshop on “Mineral Resources, Mining and Environmental Management in ASEAN”, held in Bangkok from 6-8th June, 2013. The theme of the meeting concerned the approach to sustainable mining adopted by the different ASEAN nations that were able to attend, namely Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Indonesia, with additional papers from the UK and Germany. An important aspect of the meeting was to compare current practice in individual countries, and this is reflected in the content of the papers published here. Manning’s paper on the situation in the United Kingdom uses case studies to illustrate how the approach to sustainable mining has changed during the last two centuries. A legacy of the consequences of mining over this period has developed into an approach in which mining operations are designed to improve the environment, working with local people from the earliest stage in a project. The design of tailings dams has a major impact on the risk posed by a mining operation, especially following recent dam failures in Hungary and Spain. Coldewey’s paper summarises the key issues relating to the design of tailings dams used to store mine wastes. Much mining in SE Asia involves small scale, artisanal, mines, for which such large facilities are not appropriate. Aung Kyin describes the distribution of artisanal mines in Myanmar, emphasizing the importance of small-scale mining as an employer. Importantly, artisanal mines provide an opportunity to locate and identify targets for large scale mining operations. Kyi Htun goes on to describe the history of mining in Myanmar, with a large number of illustrated examples of current mining operations. The mineral potential of Vietnam is described by Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, who provides a summary of the mined products from Vietnam in the context of the country’s geology. Environmental management of mining is considered in the context of the Lao PDR and Thailand. Phonvisai and Gajaseni summarise the mineral deposits of Lao PDR, and describe the legislative framework that guides environmental monitoring and management. Niyomthai and Wattanawan describe the legacy of problems from past mining in Thailand, and the steps that are being taken to design environmental management protocols that enable mining to take place, while at the same time reassuring the public that environmental harm is minimized. All papers in this special issue address mining within the context of sustainability – social, economic and environmental. The authors come from academic and non-academic backgrounds, and so this collection of papers provides a valuable insight for a wide audience into current thought and practice in this important area. Importantly, mining is essential for sustainable development that helps eliminate poverty and generates employment. It creates wealth that with appropriate management can be used to improve the environment, creating amenities for people affected by mining and remediating the effects of earlier mining activity that might have caused environmental harm.

Reliability-based approach to the geotechnical design of tailings dams

Mine tailings dams are geotechnical structures that are designed to provide adequate and safe storage of tailings materials both during and after the end of mine life. The design of such structures is thus of utmost importance not only to the success of the mining operation, but more importantly to the safety of the surrounding environment such as freshwater resources, wildlife and community developments. This paper presents a reliability-based approach for the geotechnical design of mine tailings dams through a real life case study of a water retention tailings dam. The stability analysis is conducted with a hydromechanical, elasto-plastic finite difference model. The reliability analysis is carried out for three stochastic parameters namely the cohesion and friction angle of the dam core material as well as its hydraulic conductivity. The results are presented in the form of probability distribution functions of the generated factor of safety. The generated reliability indices are compared to target reliability indices to help evaluate the geotechnical design of the dam.

Review of tailings dam design and construction techniques North America : Minns, A Proc Conference on Dewatering Technology and Practice (Minerals and Coal), Brisbane, 9–11 October 1989P111–116. Publ Melbourne: AusIMM, 1989

Review of tailings dam design and construction techniques North America : Minns, A Proc Conference on Dewatering Technology and Practice (Minerals and Coal), Brisbane, 9–11 October 1989P111–116. Publ Melbourne: AusIMM, 1989

Engineering geology in Papua New Guinea: a review

Papua New Guinea is a country where geology has a major impact on civil and mining engineering projects. It is situated in a geologically active region and hence is subject to earthquake- and volcanicity-related hazards. Combined with a high annual rainfall, rugged topography and intense weathering, this makes Papua New Guinea an extremeley challenging and interesting environment for the engineering geologist. Several large-scale open pit mining operations such as Panguna and Ok Tedi have involved a considerable input from geological engineers both in mine design and in the development of the necessary infrastructure. Environmental concerns have become increasingly important requiring the design of tailings dams to limit the effect of mineral extraction. The construction and maintenance of roads is an important factor in the growth of Papua New Guinea and both major and minor roads have been adversely influenced by slope instability problems. Numerous slope failures have occurred along the country's main route, the Highland's highway, on several occasions resulting in road closure. The development of hydroelectric power has also involved a significant input from geological engineers in the design and construction of dams and ancillary structures. This paper examines the influence of geology on the development of Papua New Guinea.

Closure to “ Risk Analysis for Seismic Design of Tailings Dams ” by Steven G. Vick, Gail M. Atkinson, and Charles I. Wilmot (July, 1985, Vol. 111, No. 7).

Closure to “ <i>Risk Analysis for Seismic Design of Tailings Dams</i> ” by Steven G. Vick, Gail M. Atkinson, and Charles I. Wilmot (July, 1985, Vol. 111, No. 7).

Discussion of “ Risk Analysis for Seismic Design of Tailings Dams ” by Steven G. Vick, Gail M. Atkinson, and Charles I. Wilmot (July, 1985, Vol. 111, No. 7).

Discussion of “ <i>Risk Analysis for Seismic Design of Tailings Dams</i> ” by Steven G. Vick, Gail M. Atkinson, and Charles I. Wilmot (July, 1985, Vol. 111, No. 7).

Risk analysis for seismic design of tailings dams : Vick, S G; Atkinson, G M; Wilmot, C I J Geotech Engng Div ASCEV111, N7, July 1985, P915–933

Risk analysis for seismic design of tailings dams : Vick, S G; Atkinson, G M; Wilmot, C I J Geotech Engng Div ASCEV111, N7, July 1985, P915–933

Risk Analysis for Seismic Design of Tailings Dams

Probabilistic seismic risk analysis is a promising method for evaluating design options and establishing seismic design parameters. However, there have been few examples in the literature to guide practitioners in its use. This paper demonstrates the value of risk analysis for mine tailings dams and provides a case‐history application for a seismically active portion of Nevada. Risk analysis provided the basis for selecting among design options having varying liquefaction resistance, and for establishing input parameters for dynamic analysis. Ranges are presented for the quantity and cleanup cost of tailings released in seismic failures to aid in determining expected failure consequences. It is shown that for many tailings dams, accepted lifetime failure probabilities of a few percent may provide a reasonable basis for probabilistic determination of seismic design criteria.

Current tailings dam design and construction methods : Klohn, E J Min Engng, V33, N7, July 1981, P798–808

Current tailings dam design and construction methods : Klohn, E J Min Engng, V33, N7, July 1981, P798–808

Parameters for the design of tailings dams : Conference. Preprint. 34F, 7T, 29R. PROC. 27TH CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONF. EDMONTON, NOV. 1974, P79–95

Parameters for the design of tailings dams : Conference. Preprint. 34F, 7T, 29R. PROC. 27TH CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL CONF. EDMONTON, NOV. 1974, P79–95

Parameters for the Design of Tailings Dams

Tailings dams differ from conventional earthfill structures in that much more time is available to optimize design since their construction is extended over a longer period. Laboratory data are presented on a variety of tailings sands which indicate that they are relatively strong and incompressible. Poor performance is likely to result from inadequate seepage control and instability due to liquefaction. In order to take advantage of opportunities for ongoing design, in situ permeability and density monitoring is needed together with pore pressure measurements. An infiltration test for the determination of permeability above the water table is proposed. In situ density determinations are made by driving a nuclear probe into the sands. The latter technique offers considerable promise for evaluating liquefaction potential of natural and fill deposits. Field experience is used to illustrate the application of the techniques.